Forge stepped off the bike, none the less, he felt as though he continued rushing forward. It was the result, no doubt, of Kitty's driving. He was amazed at how fast you can go when you're truly unconcerned with hitting anything.

He was breathing heavy and she smiled at him, taking pity on his obviously nervous condition as they slipped up the alleyway.

"That's the place." She whispered, gesturing across the street.

Forge looked. It appeared to be a normal office building, but the hair on the back of his neck was standing up slowly.

So he looked at it with his astral eyes and gasped.

The building in question reflected the one he was crouched at. And it glowed bright and thick with supernatural energy. It's a focal point… Like the lighthouse but not as strong. He realized.

He brought his focus back to the real world and glanced up at the building's sign.

"I. R. Enterprises." He looked back across the street. This can't be a coincidence. He reasoned. All things happen for a reason. Why is this man being held across the street from a pillar of psychic energy?

Kitty swallowed and looked up. "Maybe." She whispered, eyeing the roof. She brought her eyes back to his. "Are you ready for this?" She asked.

"What do I do?" He asked.

"Wait here. I'll come out that wall over there and make a line for that alley. Once you see me move there – follow this alley back and we'll meet on the next block. It's only three blocks to the police station. He should be safe there."

Forge nodded. It sounded good to him. "Okay." But somehow he felt it would entail a whole lot more than that alone.

"Oh!" Alistaire looked down, wide-eyed and pulled his handkerchief up over his mouth. "God!" He turned and vomited behind the car.

Kurt looked down and swallowed. Then he cast his eyes upwards.

"Kurt!" He heard Lucy call. "We're up here." She was breathing heavy. "Everything's fine."

Kurt teleported to the deck and slipped but caught his balance in the thick smear of blood that coated the floor.

"Mien Gott!" He swallowed. "Vhat happened? Who is this?"

He looked like he wanted to move in every direction at once.

Betsy recoiled in shock at his appearance.

Lucy smiled. She was holding a steak to her face and sitting on the edge of one of the patio chairs. "That's Betsy. She came here to kill Kitty." She swallowed. "But now I think Kitty wants to keep her or something."

"Where is she? Where's Kitty?" Kurt glanced between them.

Betsy forced herself to speak. "She went to save my brother. I'm being blackmailed by the Hellfire Club."

"Took Forge with her." Lucy added.

Kurt nodded. Hellfire Club? "And the body down below?"

Lucy looked downcast all of the sudden. "X12." She said softly.

Kurt looked taken aback. "What was he doing here?"

Betsy and Lucy exchanged a glance and looked desperate to find the words.

"He was …" Betsy began.

"Hunting me … for my Adamantium." Lucy decided out loud. "He was jealous. And felt entitled to it."

Kurt looked horrified and stepped forward and hugged her quickly.

She didn't know what to do, but, she did lean in awkwardly at first, and then, his warmth and attention did make her relax.

He swallowed and pulled back to look her in her good eye, the steak still covering the other side of her face. "Are you all right?" He whispered, seeing how much of her clothing was destroyed or covered in blood.

She nodded happily. She had expected something like Logan's lecture about killing. But none came.

Then he dropped his eyes to Betsy. "Is she still bleeding?" He asked.

"Ambulance is coming." Betsy said softly.

Kurt nodded, half in shock. "I'll tell Alistaire. I'll be right back."

And he bamfed away.

Betsy looked over at Lucy. "Hey…" She swallowed. "You look a lot better."

Lucy nodded. "I know. But I still feel weak." She swallowed. "And I'm worried about my eye."

Betsy showed obvious concern.

"I've never lost one before. It REALLY hurt. And it wasn't growing back." She took a deep breath. "Once, when I lost most of this leg…" She indicated her right one. "They packed the holes in the muscles with ground meat and eventually my healing factor broke down the meat and rebuilt the muscle."

"And that's what you're doing now?" Betsy asked.

Lucy nodded.

Betsy smiled weakly. "I… really hope you're okay." She said softly. "I wish we hadn't met this way. I think we could have been friends."

Lucy looked at her for a long moment. "I could… see that." She said at last. "You fight good." She swallowed. "I haven't trained against anyone since I got here. You were a good fight."

Betsy laughed. "Please, you would have killed me."

Lucy shook her head. "No." She swallowed. "I wouldn't have. Kurt and Kitty wouldn't want me to." She said softly. "Because you didn't need it." She sighed. "They have complicated rules."

"He didn't seem upset about the body." Betsy added. "And I have to say that I tried to hide behind you when I saw him. He's a little intimidating."

Lucy shook her head. "He only smells that way. He's really nice."

"Ummm.." Betsy looked lost for a moment and then was distracted by the distant sounds of sirens as they sped up the road toward the lighthouse.

Emma stormed out the back door of the office. Damn them all. She cursed mentally. Damn them all.

She strode confidently around the block to her waiting car. I'll get my revenge for this. I swear it.

Sebastian Shaw sat at the head of the table. "Now." He began. "Emma has been dismissed from this vote in retribution for using her powers against a fellow member. Her argument that it was natural emotional backlash and not a result of her power but a result of being interrupted is however a plausible one. Which brings us to Illyana Rasputin. What was she doing there in the first place? Is she responsible for Emma's failure with the Mutant Advisor and should we allow her to proceed with her plan?"

Every one seemed focused but restless to have their opinions heard.

"I doubt her story. Creating a mutant martyr in order to use his death to justify the use of the offices powers more quickly than previously planned? Why did this fall to her to decide?" Someone asked.

And many people nodded in support.

"It's truly not the place of the White Princess to do such things. However, perhaps the problem is that the Throne of the White Queen has grown complacent?" Someone else asked. "Does Illyana belong in the role or does Emma?"

And many people nodded to add their support to the question.

"Perhaps…" Sebastian pondered out loud. "Perhaps it does not matter in the end. Perhaps we should award the title of White Queen to the one who can deliver us the Mutant Advisor."

"So we should let Illyana kill this Wagner and position her own man in place?" Someone asked. "While also encouraging Emma to try and sway him to our side?"

Sebastian nodded. "We can give Emma a head start. Let her contact Wagner and see what his decision is."

"Then it's agreed?" Another asked.

And they all 'harumphed' in unison.

Illyana had taken the stairs down to the street. I may be in trouble this time. She swallowed. She had never been dismissed from a meeting before. It was humiliating.

She finally reached the lobby and ducked out the front door and around in to the alley…

Where she ran headlong in to Forge.

"Umpf!" Forge caught her. "Easy there." He smiled until he saw her face.

"Why don't you watch where you're going?" She roared before she realized he was looking at her forehead.

"What? What do you see?" She demanded.

"N-Nothing." He lied. "Just…"

And in a lightning fast movement he reached out and touched the mark.

A brilliant flash resounded and blew his arm backwards, leaving him tingling in pain.

She was hit with a shock too, wiping the snarl from her face and leaving her with a look of horror for just a moment before her expression hardened over and she looked at him madly.

"Looking to make a name for yourself by taking on the best?" She laughed. "Well bring it on you amateur hack." She smiled.

"What? No!" Forge shook his head. "I was just standing here." He insisted.

"On my property." She added. "You're trespassing." She spit the words. "Get out!"

She was roaring with his eyes wild.

I think I just discovered whose focal point this is. Forge swallowed and tried to retreat.

"Or better yet…" She smiled and raised her hands while she began to mumble under her breath.